Where's the vroom? New electric Harley draws mixed reviews

Harley Davidson is developing an electric motorcycle to appeal to a younger, more global demographic, reports CNBC's Morgan Brennan.

When you think of Harley-Davidson, quiet electric vehicles probably don't come to mind.

But the motorcycle maker is out to change that.

With the company's new Project LiveWire—an all-electric, prototype motorcycle that goes from zero to 60 miles per hour in less than four seconds—Harley is aiming to shake up the electric motorcycle game, and attract new consumers.

"Project LiveWire reinforces the brand and its dimension," said Mark-Hans Richer, Harley-Davidson's chief marketing officer. "It's really about reinvention. We are taking what is great about America and about Harley-Davidson and we are moving it forward."

Harley-Davidson goes electric

Harley-Davidson revealed its first electric motorcycle, which showcases a whole new look, sound & feel.

Electric motorcycles comprise less than 1.5 percent of the total market—only about 5,000 units, according to UBS. The category has been largely dominated by small makers such as Brammo and Zero Motorcycles. Yamaha has also announced plans to enter the market, with its two electric models, the PES1 and the PED1, expected to hit the market by 2016.

UBS analyst Robin Farley said Harley's decision to move into the space is about building buzz for its brand. She added the new electric category won't add to revenues for the largest motorcycle maker, based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

As a comparison, Zero Motorcycleshopes to sell just 2,400 of its electrics this year, about 1 percent of Harley's 2013 sales of gasoline-powered motorcycles.

Harley so far has no plans to bring the model electric bike into production.

"Harley is basically trying to demonstrate that they can innovate beyond their core customer and that's been a challenge for them in the past," said Farley of UBS.

Still, a recent study by Navigant Research suggests Harley may be onto a trend. The researcher anticipates sales of electric motorcycles worldwide will grow to 1.2 million this year, along with 4.1 million battery scooters.

"The electric car and motorcycle market is a very small niche, but a very fast-growing category," Diedrich said. "If Harley can create a good product and get a lot of excitement around it, you'll have individuals that may not have made the move to electric, considering taking the leap."

But while Harley's Richer said the company has been "very happy with the response so far," several enthusiasts at the company's Canoga Park, California, dealership were critical of the electric vehicles. Many buyers buy Harleys and tune them to make them louder—adding to the adage that "loud pipes save lives."

One Harley owner said he wouldn't purchase the new bike because without the roar of the engine, it wouldn't be a true Harley.

"When I ride a motorcycle, it's that engine vibration, the sound, the kind of visceral experience you get that you can't get with an electric motorcycle," said the California owner. "If I'm going to buy an electric motorcycle, I might as well buy a scooter or something like that."

Project LiveWire was unveiled at an invitation-only event in New York and will be available for licensed riders to test drive at events around the U.S throughout the summer. The prototypes get about 53 miles per charge and take roughly 3.5 hours to recharge.